Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson's Statement on Reports that the Administration is Targeting Haitians Seeking Temporary Protected Status Designation

Statement

Congresswoman Frederica Wilson issued the following statement in response to reports that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is seeking evidence of crimes committed by Haitians seeking TPS designation:

"During the presidential campaign, candidate Donald Trump visited South Florida's Haitian community and pledged to be a champion for them. Based on this promise, many Haitians voted for him even though I encouraged them not to. Sending the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to seek evidence of crimes committed by Haitians seeking Temporary Protected Status is not a great way to repay them for their allegiance.

"Haiti is in no condition to accept deportees. It is still struggling from the earthquake that in 2010 shook the island nation to its core and has had to create tent cities as a result of the last hurricane. It also is dealing with the imminent pull-out of the United Nations' peacekeeping operation, MINUSTAH.

"In addition, the Dominican Republic is stripping Haitians of their citizenship and deporting them back to Haiti, creating a stateless people with nowhere to go when they arrive in a country that is dealing with cholera, Zika, AIDS and other issues that greatly diminish any capacity to accept and aid deportees.

On the other hand, Haitians living in Miami help ease that burden by consistently sending remittances to Haiti and so many people there depend on as their sole means of support and survival.

"It would be cruel of President Trump to not extend Haiti's TPS designation until 2020."

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